Pura Vida!!!!!

Well, to explain my subject line... On Sunday Sister Walker sang at a fireside with the Ambassador of Costa Rica. Pura Vida is their motto type of thing, it means Pure Life. It was a pretty cool fireside until he made a snooty rude comment about America, then my American Pride kicked in and I was grumpy the rest of the time. Ha ha, It's a good thing Heavenly Father sent me to a stateside mission, my American Pride would have gotten in the way too much if he didn't. It already gets in the way now and I LIVE in America. Ha ha, good times. I am glad I have a companion with such a wonderful voice because I get to go to all these cool things she sings at. The refreshments were really good so I left the fireside happy and with some yummy American food in my tummy (which does NOT happen very often!)
It's been a good (but wet) week. We have THREE people with a baptismal date! We are so excited. One is Soledad and her daughter Luz. They are so humble and she set a date her first lesson. They come to church every Sunday and totally love it. The other one is Maribel! We couldn't be more excited for her! We love Maribel so much and we are so excited for her to be baptized. March 13th is the date for Maribel and March 14th for Soledad and Luz! Woo hoo! Santos is doing awesome it you can totally see the change in him since he was baptized. Sadly, his friend Luis, who we were sure would get baptized before Santos randomly told us he didn't want to talk the lessons anymore. We are going to still try to work with him but he has been MIA since the baptism.
We have a couple of new investigators that seem very interested and Sister Walker and I are hoping that we stay in the Bronx for another cycle after this one at least, we just feel there is so much we have to do here still!
Sister Walker and I are still so close and getting along great. We have decided we are the same person! Pretty much everything about us is the same, all the way down to eating popcorn with a glass of milk :) It is wonderful. Every other Tuesday we do service in the Bishops storehouse and it is so fun! We love doing it mainly because we love the senior couple missionaries that live there! Elder and Sister Wilhite are so awesome! Sister Wilhite is like a firecracker and she is so fun to be around. They are like are mission mom and dad because they live next to the church and if we are ever having a bad day they will take care of us. It is so nice! (And nice for me because they speak English :)
They have still not told me if we are moving or not. It is hard to find a good place close to the church. The building all the elders live in is really nice but they are obviously hesitant to put the elders so close to the sisters. So as of now, keep sending letters to the mission office. I get mail from there every Friday. The bed bugs are still enjoying feasting on my legs and arms but I am becoming used to being itchy all the time. Ha ha
Funny story of the week: One day Sister Walker and I were standing waiting for the single to change so we could cross the street and at the same time we were looking for a street so we weren't really paying attention. All of the sudden a car drove through this huge gross puddle (we like to call the gross water here Bronx Juice) and all the Bronx juice splashed ALL OVER US! We were soaked and just started laughing so hard. Then this lady starts yelling at us to pay attention but she was yelling in Spanish. Little did she know we understood everything she said... it was some good times.
I was sick AGAIN this last weekend with a fever and body aches but I am doing better now. It has turned into a really annoying stuffy nose. I don't know why I get so sick here. Oh well, I'm happy so it's good!
I love you all! I have really seen the Lords hand in peoples lives here, especially in preparing them. I hope all of you are taking care of the missionaries in your home wards... Next time you feed them ask them what their favorite meal is, it's fun to get normal food sometimes :)
One thing our mission is doing is reading the Book of Mormon together as a mission and it is awesome. Could that book be any more true? Every time I read it I gain new insight, I love it! Well, I love you all! Keep on keeping on!
Love, Hermana Passantino

Bit by the Bronx Bugs Again

Yes, it's true... the Bronx Bug is out to get me. Well, I don't know what kind of bug it is but every morning I wake up with about 10 new bug bites which is always annoying. We believe it might be bed bugs but we never see them. Which brings me to something I don't want to forget... we may be moving to a new place in the Bronx soon. (The senior missionary couple here is NOT happy with the conditions of our apartment, it's pretty ghetto) So, don't send stuff to the apt anymore, just send it to the mission office and I get that mail once a week. So yes, make sure to take that address off the blog and I will update you more on the situtaion when I find out. This week has been really good! Santos was baptized yesterday! Woo hoo!!! Hno. Cerda, a member from Chile, baptized him and when Santos went down in the water Hno. Cerda slipped and almost baptized himself. Ha ha, it was funny, but Santos went all the way under and it worked out well. Santos' friend Luis is next! He just needs to attend institute a couple more times. We have so much success here, it's wonderful. Today for P-day we went back to the museum of Natural History for an elders in my district birthday. I finally got a New York hot dog which was wonderful! Don't worry, I took pictures. We have had A LOT of snow and my boots have been constantly wet which never is a good time but oh well, I shall survive. We still are working like crazy! For some reason I am always getting sick here. I feel like I haven't been super healthy since I got to NY. Monday I came home from mission conference and threw up 3 times. FUN! But I was fine the next day. Speaking of mission conference, it was amazing! I love it and was really inspired. I love President and Sister Smith! I was also able to see Sister Baxter which always makes my day! Well, I love you all! Thanks for all you do for me and the Lord. I know that as we serve Him more our lives will always be filled with joy!
Love Hermana Passantino
PS: Yesterday we did an activity for the youth and it was awesome. I love working with the youth. I realized that no matter where you grow up, whether it's Chico or the Bronx, the tools Heavenly Father has given us work the same (Scriptures, prayer, etc.) We just need to USE them!

I'm dreaming of a white... Valentines Day???

It is snowing like CRAZY here in the big apple! I can't believe all the snow. School was canceled YESTERDAY before the snow even hit because the storm was supposed to be so big. It was supposed to snow on Saturday but then NOTHING happened so we didn't believe anyone... until this morning when I had to push my Bronx cart through 6 inches of snow to get my laundry done. Ha ha. It is very interesting... I'm just glad I don't have to drive in it.
Well, last week was a very good first week of the cycle. We have been able to teach a lot of beat our goal of how many lessons we wanted last week! We never really do very much contacting because we are constantly in lessons. The most contacting we do is on the bus or while walking to an appt. Almost all of our new investigators are from members. We have even reached the point of almost being a little frustrated when we get someone new because we have such a hard time fitting them in. But not to worry, this is the Lords work and He really helps us fit everything in. Needless to say, we are totally pooped by the time we get home at night.
So weird food update... we went to a members house (the same member who fed us stomach) and they had heard that Sister Walker was sick. He made us drink this weird concoction of garlic, honey, onions and relish... it was SO gross... it had been like, sitting in the fridge forever and then we had to take a shot of it and then drink pure lime juice after. They swear they NEVER get sick because they drink it every day. Yum. Ha ha. Good times.
So, Santos is getting baptized next Tuesday! We are so excited! There is so much work to be done here in the Bronx! I am trying to think of some other things that have happened this week. Nothing too out of the ordinary. I am staying warm and wishing warm weather will come soon.
I have been able to study a lot of the book, Jesus the Christ, this last week and it is so amazing. I am so grateful for our Savior and His sacrifice. This life would mean nothing without Him. I know that He lives and loves us and the plan is so perfect for us. How can we not follow it? I love this gospel!

Thanks to everyone for love, support and letters! Have a wonderful Valentines Day! I LOVE YOU ALL!
Love, Sister Passantino
PS: Many have asked about how Spanish is going. It is ok. I got really frustrated with it on Sunday but since them I feel it coming a little more easily. It's really slowly but surely. One day I won't despise this language. Ha ha

First Baptisms! Jarynet and Jordan

Ya Tu Sabes

Yes, some more Dominican slang as my subject line:) Well, I survived my first cycle. Who would have guessed? Ha ha, it went by fast but at the same time not very fast. I had my first transfer meeting today because I didn't go to the transfer meeting my first day. It was interesting and we got another set of missionaries for my ward! It will be awesome! We have a baptism of a man named Santos on the 16th so I hope that sticks. It has been great to see the members really get to know him and accept him into the ward. I hope I stay here for a while because I really like it. Some highlights from this week...Sister Walker got so sick. She got hit by the stomach flu worse than I've ever seen! She was out for a couple days. Our district leader also got it and he had to go to the hospital. Luckily I am just fine and we'll hope it stays that way! This Sunday we had the confirmation of Jarynet and Jordan! It was awesome and so exciting! It been getting really cold again which I am never a fan of but oh well, one day I am sure I will be wanting it to be cold when it's all hot and humid. One exciting thing that happened this week is that we got caught in the middle of a bloods vs. crypts argument. Don't worry mom and dad, I prayed real hard and we were just fine but it was something to write in my journal for sure. And to think I was scared of the gangsters I taught in Utah... ha ha.
This week I've really focused my studies on the Savior. I believe that the more we know him, the stronger desire we'll have to serve in whatever way we can. He really is our example.
I hope all is well with everyone. Again, thank you for your love, prayers, and letters :) Please remember to pray for the work in your area, our biggest help is the members!
Con Amor- Hermana Passantino